Autopsy: Exposure to cold played role in Mount Pocono man's death

An autopsy revealed that a man found dead Thursday in his Mount Pocono home died from preexisting medical conditions and exposure to the cold, Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen said.

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By HOWARD FRANK

poconorecord.com

By HOWARD FRANK

Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By HOWARD FRANK

Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

An autopsy revealed that a man found dead Thursday in his Mount Pocono home died from preexisting medical conditions and exposure to the cold, Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen said.

Pocono Mountain Regional Police found the frozen body of Walter Elwine, 71, reclining on a couch in his one-story Fairview Avenue home at 5:45 p.m. Thursday.

Allen said there were no signs of trauma or injury to the body. Initial findings indicate that the recent cold weather may have contributed to his death, however the case is pending until final autopsy and toxicology reports are available, Allen's office said.

Elwine was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. He had diabetes and had suffered a stroke, and had undergone heart bypass surgery sometime in the past, Allen said.

A manner of death could not be determined and is pending toxicology, which could take a month, Allen said. Because of the cold, it was impossible to determine how long Elwine had been dead.

"It could have been several days," Allen said. "The neighbor said they hadn't seen smoke coming from his chimney for at least two days."

Police said a wood stove in the home hadn't been used lately.

The autopsy was performed Friday at Lehigh Valley Hospital by forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Johnson.

"Each situation is unique," said administrator Patty Fretz at the Monroe County Area Agency on Aging. "It makes me sad to hear what happened to this gentleman. We suggest older residents have at least one person they can keep in contact with every day so that there's someone checking up on them."